Verizon and other telecommunication companies are trying block laws that would forbid them from charging websites for being available over their networks. The fact that they want to do this is ridiculous, and it will fundamentally cripple the Internet as an innovation mechanism (the barrier for entry will be too high). But, I think they should allow it, with one small exception.

If you want to route data across your network differently based on the address or protocol that it is us, you loose common carrier liability protection. That means that you are responsible for the content that you are providing. Someone violates copyright or downloads child pornography, you have a certain amount of liability. This seems fair, as you are not providing a network socket anymore, you are providing a network connection to specific data services.

I wonder who scares Verizon more, Google or the RIAA.

Link: Slashdot


posted Feb 8, 2006 | permanent link